US7401908B2 - Ink jet device with ink deaerator - Google Patents
Ink jet device with ink deaerator Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US7401908B2 US7401908B2 US11/095,239 US9523905A US7401908B2 US 7401908 B2 US7401908 B2 US 7401908B2 US 9523905 A US9523905 A US 9523905A US 7401908 B2 US7401908 B2 US 7401908B2
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- ink
- ink jet
- inlet
- exit
- recited
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/19—Ink jet characterised by ink handling for removing air bubbles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
- B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2202/00—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet or thermal heads
- B41J2202/01—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet heads
- B41J2202/02—Air-assisted ejection
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to ink jet devices, and more particularly to ink jet devices with an ink deaeration function.
- U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,082 describes the deaeration of ink in an ink jet system in which ink flows from a reservoir upwardly past membranes having a reduced pressure on a side opposite the ink. The reduced pressure deaerates the ink which then exits an orifice.
- U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,082 is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
- European Patent Application No. 0 709 212 describes a pen-based degassing scheme for ink jet pens which has a heater element to remove gases in a standpipe region of an ink jet cartridge.
- An object of the present invention is to improve deaeration of ink in an ink jet print head. Another additional or alternative object of the present invention is to improve the printing quality of ink jet print heads.
- the present invention provides an ink jet device comprising:
- a deaerator having an ink passage, a membrane and a vacuum chamber, the ink passage having an exit connected to the ink jet print head and an inlet, the membrane having a first side and a second side, the first side contacting ink in the ink passage and the second side contacting the vacuum chamber, the inlet of the ink passage being located above the exit.
- the ink passage becomes progressively lower over an entire extent between the inlet and the exit, so that air bubbles are not trapped between the inlet and the exit.
- the ink passage thus may be planar, the ink passage having a constant angled slope downwardly between the inlet and the exit.
- the downward angle preferably, but not necessarily, is less than 30 degrees and most preferably is between 5 and 15 degrees, for example 10 degrees. This can provide a smooth ink flow and limit the vertical space required by the ink jet device, which can be highly advantageous, for example when the ink jet device is retrofitted or used in an existing printing press design.
- the ink jet print head preferably has nozzles facing downwardly.
- another orientation such as a sideways orientation is possible.
- the ink jet device preferably includes an unpressurized ink supply connected to the inlet.
- the ink supply preferably is an ink supply reservoir located above the inlet.
- the ink supply reservoir may be subjected to atmospheric pressure.
- the present invention also provides a printing machine comprising:
- a printing unit printing a substrate
- an ink jet printing device as described printing the substrate.
- the present invention also provides a method for deaerating ink in an ink passage, the ink passage having an exit connected to an ink jet print head and an inlet, the method comprising adjusting a height of the inlet with respect to the exit so as to permit air bubbles in the ink passage to rise through the inlet.
- FIG. 1 shows a cross-section view of a sheet-fed offset lithographic printing machine having an ink jet printing device according to the present invention.
- FIG. 1 shows a side view of a sheet-fed printing machine 10 for printing sheets 12 and having a first offset printing unit 14 and a second offset printing unit 16 , for example each printing unit 14 , 16 printing one of a plurality of colors.
- Each printing unit may have plate cylinders 18 , 20 and blanket cylinders 22 , 24 .
- Four offset printing units or more may be provided to print for example cyan, magenta, yellow and black.
- An inking and/or damping unit 30 may provide ink or dampening solution to the offset printing unit 16 .
- An ink jet device 40 includes an ink jet print head 42 having an ink jet nozzle assembly having nozzles 44 oriented downwardly in this embodiment for delivering ink to the sheets 12 .
- Ink jet device 40 includes a deaerator 50 having an ink passage 58 , a membrane 52 and a vacuum chamber 54 .
- Ink passage 58 has an exit 48 connected to the jet print head 42 via a line 46 and an inlet 56 connected by a line 62 to an ink supply reservoir 60 .
- Ink in ink supply reservoir 60 may be open to the atmosphere.
- Membrane 52 has a first side 82 contacting ink in the ink passage 58 and a second side 84 contacting the vacuum chamber 54 , and may be similar for example to membranes disclosed in incorporated-by-reference U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,082.
- Vacuum chamber 54 or an addition vacuum chamber may be located above ink passage 58 so that air bubbles would rise toward the membrane 52 or an additional membrane for the additional vacuum chamber.
- Vacuum chamber 54 may be connected by a line 66 to a vacuum source 64 .
- Deaerator 50 may be supported fixedly at an angle, for example by a frame. Alternately an adjustment device may be provided.
- deaerator 50 may be supported on a table 70 , with for example four legs sitting on the table, the rear and front legs attached pivotally to the deaerator 50 via pivots 72 and 78 , respectively.
- the front two legs for example may have an adjustment mechanism for adjusting an angle ⁇ of the deaerator 50 and thus the ink passage 58 with respect to a horizontal 80 .
- two of the legs may have an externally-threaded base portion 74 interacting with a hollow interiorly-threaded portion 76 connected to pivot 78 .
- the angle ⁇ can be adjusted.
- any type of angle adjustment mechanism can be used, such as wedges or shims.
- An automatic adjustment mechanism for example could be provided by a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder.
- deaerator 50 also may rest or be supported horizontally, and the ink passage may be angled within the deaerator 50 .
- Ink passage 58 preferably is planar and has a constant angled slope downwardly between the inlet 56 and the exit 48 .
- the downward angle ⁇ preferably is less than 30 degrees and most preferably is between 5 and 15 degrees, for example 10 degrees.
- Lines 46 , 62 and 66 can for example be flexible to permit adjustment of the deaerator 50 .
- the low angle can for example be highly advantageous when adding or retrofitting the ink jet device 40 into an existing printing machine.
- the ink jet device 40 is added as a varnishing unit after printing unit 16 , and the dampening or inking units provide little vertical space for the ink jet device between printing unit 16 and for example a downstream heat-setting unit such as a dryer, the shallow angle may be highly advantageous.
- the present invention aids in preventing air bubbles from entering the ink jet print head, which is advantageous since an air bubble in a pumping chamber can stop an ink jet from jetting. With the lung at an angle, the air bubbles rise, moving away from the exit connected to the ink jet print head, and move toward the inlet.
- Ink as defined herein may be any liquid applied to a sheet material and capable of being exited using ink jet technology, and may include for example both pigmented liquids and colorless liquids such as varnishes.
Landscapes
- Ink Jet (AREA)
- Coating Apparatus (AREA)
- Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- 10 sheet-fed printing machine
- 12 sheets
- 14 first offset printing unit
- 16 second offset printing unit
- 18 plate cylinder
- 20 plate cylinder
- 22 blanket cylinder
- 24 blanket cylinder
- 30 inking and/or damping unit
- 40 ink jet device
- 42 ink jet print head
- 44 ink jet nozzles
- 46 line
- 48 exit
- 50 deaerator
- 52 membrane
- 54 vacuum chamber
- 56 inlet
- 58 ink passage
- 60 ink supply reservoir
- 62 line
- 64 vacuum source
- 66 line
- 70 table
- 72 pivot
- 74 externally-threaded base portion
- 76 internally-threaded portion
- 78 pivot
- 80 horizontal
- 82 first membrane side
- 84 second membrane side
Claims (10)
Priority Applications (7)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/095,239 US7401908B2 (en) | 2005-03-31 | 2005-03-31 | Ink jet device with ink deaerator |
DE602006019514T DE602006019514D1 (en) | 2005-03-31 | 2006-03-24 | Ink jet device with ink venting |
EP06006103A EP1707376B1 (en) | 2005-03-31 | 2006-03-24 | Ink jet device with ink deaerator |
AT06006103T ATE495019T1 (en) | 2005-03-31 | 2006-03-24 | INK JET APPARATUS WITH INK VENTILATION |
JP2006089951A JP4847174B2 (en) | 2005-03-31 | 2006-03-29 | Ink jet device with ink degassing device |
CN2006100716623A CN1840340B (en) | 2005-03-31 | 2006-03-30 | Ink jet device with ink deaerator |
KR1020060028724A KR101215257B1 (en) | 2005-03-31 | 2006-03-30 | Ink jet device with ink deaerator |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/095,239 US7401908B2 (en) | 2005-03-31 | 2005-03-31 | Ink jet device with ink deaerator |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20060221145A1 US20060221145A1 (en) | 2006-10-05 |
US7401908B2 true US7401908B2 (en) | 2008-07-22 |
Family
ID=36694428
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/095,239 Active 2026-01-22 US7401908B2 (en) | 2005-03-31 | 2005-03-31 | Ink jet device with ink deaerator |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US7401908B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1707376B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4847174B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR101215257B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN1840340B (en) |
AT (1) | ATE495019T1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE602006019514D1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8333468B2 (en) * | 2007-09-05 | 2012-12-18 | Fujifilm Dimatix, Inc. | Method of printing |
DE102008023067A1 (en) * | 2008-05-09 | 2009-11-12 | Manroland Ag | Printing unit with imprinting and printing process |
EP2803487B1 (en) * | 2012-01-11 | 2018-06-20 | Seiren Co., Ltd. | Inkjet recording apparatus |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4814786A (en) * | 1987-04-28 | 1989-03-21 | Spectra, Inc. | Hot melt ink supply system |
US4961082A (en) | 1987-04-28 | 1990-10-02 | Spectra, Inc. | Deaeration of ink in an ink jet system |
US5189438A (en) | 1989-03-06 | 1993-02-23 | Spectra, Inc. | Dual reservoir and valve system for an ink jet head |
US5489925A (en) * | 1993-05-04 | 1996-02-06 | Markem Corporation | Ink jet printing system |
EP0709212A1 (en) | 1994-10-31 | 1996-05-01 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Pen-based degassing scheme for ink jet pens |
US5646666A (en) * | 1992-04-24 | 1997-07-08 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Back pressure control in ink-jet printing |
US5831653A (en) | 1994-10-11 | 1998-11-03 | Lexmark International, Inc. | Ink jet print head cartridge |
US6447093B1 (en) * | 1996-07-12 | 2002-09-10 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Liquid discharge head having a plurality of liquid flow channels with check valves |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5742313A (en) * | 1994-10-31 | 1998-04-21 | Spectra, Inc. | Efficient ink jet head arrangement |
US5808643A (en) * | 1997-06-30 | 1998-09-15 | Xerox Corporation | Air removal means for ink jet printers |
DE19943948B4 (en) * | 1999-09-14 | 2005-07-14 | Artech Gmbh Design + Production In Plastic | Method for producing an ink cartridge for an inkjet printer |
US6457820B1 (en) * | 2001-06-19 | 2002-10-01 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Facility and method for removing gas bubbles from an ink jet printer |
US7198351B2 (en) * | 2002-09-24 | 2007-04-03 | Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Ink jet recording apparatus |
JP2004122704A (en) | 2002-10-07 | 2004-04-22 | Seiko Epson Corp | Ink cartridge, structure for fitting ink cartridge, and inkjet printer equipped with the same |
-
2005
- 2005-03-31 US US11/095,239 patent/US7401908B2/en active Active
-
2006
- 2006-03-24 AT AT06006103T patent/ATE495019T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2006-03-24 EP EP06006103A patent/EP1707376B1/en active Active
- 2006-03-24 DE DE602006019514T patent/DE602006019514D1/en active Active
- 2006-03-29 JP JP2006089951A patent/JP4847174B2/en active Active
- 2006-03-30 CN CN2006100716623A patent/CN1840340B/en active Active
- 2006-03-30 KR KR1020060028724A patent/KR101215257B1/en active IP Right Grant
Patent Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4814786A (en) * | 1987-04-28 | 1989-03-21 | Spectra, Inc. | Hot melt ink supply system |
US4961082A (en) | 1987-04-28 | 1990-10-02 | Spectra, Inc. | Deaeration of ink in an ink jet system |
US5189438A (en) | 1989-03-06 | 1993-02-23 | Spectra, Inc. | Dual reservoir and valve system for an ink jet head |
US5646666A (en) * | 1992-04-24 | 1997-07-08 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Back pressure control in ink-jet printing |
US5489925A (en) * | 1993-05-04 | 1996-02-06 | Markem Corporation | Ink jet printing system |
US5910810A (en) | 1993-05-04 | 1999-06-08 | Markem Corporation | Ink jet printing system |
US5831653A (en) | 1994-10-11 | 1998-11-03 | Lexmark International, Inc. | Ink jet print head cartridge |
EP0709212A1 (en) | 1994-10-31 | 1996-05-01 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Pen-based degassing scheme for ink jet pens |
US6447093B1 (en) * | 1996-07-12 | 2002-09-10 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Liquid discharge head having a plurality of liquid flow channels with check valves |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE602006019514D1 (en) | 2011-02-24 |
KR101215257B1 (en) | 2012-12-24 |
JP2006281784A (en) | 2006-10-19 |
CN1840340B (en) | 2011-03-16 |
EP1707376B1 (en) | 2011-01-12 |
EP1707376A3 (en) | 2007-10-03 |
CN1840340A (en) | 2006-10-04 |
ATE495019T1 (en) | 2011-01-15 |
US20060221145A1 (en) | 2006-10-05 |
JP4847174B2 (en) | 2011-12-28 |
KR20060105537A (en) | 2006-10-11 |
EP1707376A2 (en) | 2006-10-04 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG, GERMANY Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:GRAVESON, SANDRA J.;MENARD, ALAN;REEL/FRAME:016618/0860;SIGNING DATES FROM 20050503 TO 20050523 |
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Owner name: DIMATIX, INC., NEW HAMPSHIRE Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:SPECTRA, INC.;REEL/FRAME:017605/0702 Effective date: 20050501 |
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STCF | Information on status: patent grant |
Free format text: PATENTED CASE |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: FUJIFILM DIMATIX, INC., NEW HAMPSHIRE Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:DIMATIX, INC.;REEL/FRAME:022575/0816 Effective date: 20060725 |
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Owner name: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG, GERMANY Free format text: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CORRECT OMITTED 2ND ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 016618 FRAME: 0860. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSISGNMENT;ASSIGNORS:GRAVESON, SANDRA J.;MENARD, ALAN;SIGNING DATES FROM 20050503 TO 20050523;REEL/FRAME:050965/0014 Owner name: SPECTRA INC., NEW HAMPSHIRE Free format text: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CORRECT OMITTED 2ND ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 016618 FRAME: 0860. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSISGNMENT;ASSIGNORS:GRAVESON, SANDRA J.;MENARD, ALAN;SIGNING DATES FROM 20050503 TO 20050523;REEL/FRAME:050965/0014 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: FUJIFILM DIMATIX, INC., NEW HAMPSHIRE Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG;REEL/FRAME:050956/0696 Effective date: 20191106 |
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